Farmer Sidney Schiever, center, of Harmony accepts the Distinguished Local Affairs Leader Award from Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Rick Ebert during the bureau's 66th annual meeting in Hershey. Schiever's wife, Joan, joined him on stage to accept the award.

HERSHEY — Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has selected Sidney Schiever of Harmony as the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Local Affairs Leader Award during the bureau’s 66th annual meeting in Hershey.

The award recognizes an outstanding individual, whose local affairs, efforts and activities have helped solve problems and improve rural living for county Farm Bureau members.

“Sidney has done an outstanding job representing agriculture and Farm Bureau over a long history of involvement in his community,” state Farm Bureau President Rick Ebert said in a release. “He has been extremely involved in the legislative process and also has built strong connections with lawmakers, the public and student visitors, who have toured his family dairy farm over the years.”

The 81-year-old Schiever has been a full-time dairy farmer for 65 years and has served in a variety of roles over the past 40 years on the Butler County Farm Bureau, including as president, membership committee member, board director and local government affairs coordinator.

“I think it’s very important that we, as farmers, keep in contact with lawmakers to let them know who we are and what we do. We need policymakers to understand how legislation and other issues involving agriculture can impact farmers, food production and the state’s economy,” said Schiever.

Farm Bureau notes that Schiever has been involved in a variety of projects over the years, including organizing Butler County Farm Bureau members to participate in annual visits to the State Legislative Conference in Harrisburg and the National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. He’s also played a key role in organizing summer picnics and the county Farm Bureau’s legislative farm tours.

“The farm tours have been well attended and have helped lawmakers register a name and a face to a farmer, so the lawmakers are more likely to respond when he or she receives a phone call from a farmer to discuss issues affecting agriculture,” added Schiever, who was also instrumental in establishing “Ag Security Areas” throughout Butler County.

Throughout his career, Schiever has enlightened lawmakers, including urban politicians, about the positive influence and impact farming and other agriculture businesses have on local economies.